Frame for aprons of grain-harvesters.



No. 63mm Patented Aug. 22, I899.

J. w. PRIDMDRE.

FRAME FOR APRUNS 0F GRAIN HABVESTERS.

(Application filed Jan, 24, 1898.)

No Model.)

WITNESSES:

ATTOR N EY.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN W. PRIDMORE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE MCCORMICKHARVETING MACHINE COMPANY.

FRAME FOR APRONS O.F GRAlN-HARVESTERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 631,668, dated August22, 1899.

Application filed January 24, 1898. Serial No. 667,778. (No model.)

To all whmn it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN W. PRIDMORE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented anew and u'sefulImprove ment in the Frames that Carry theEndless Aprons on Self-Binding Harvesters, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to improvements in self-binding harvesters in whichthe grain is carried from the platform where it is cut on endless apronsto the binding mechanism,"

framework of the elevator of a self-binding harvester as is necessary toshow my invention,the elevator beinglon gitudinally broken, so as tobring it nearer together, and thus take less space on the drawing. Fig.2 is an elevation looking from the rear on line 2 2 of Fig. 1, and Fig.3 is a detailed drawing on line 3 3 of Fig. l. v

Simil arletters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The main wheel A of the machineis represented in dotted lines in Fig. 2,as is also the main sill B. The grain-wheel and platform, which are thesame as found on all self-binding grain-harvesters, are not shown.

At the delivery end of the platform is erected a framework that issupported at its front side by the posts 0 and O, which are erected fromthe main sills B of the machine. The post 0 is shown in dotted lines. Tothese posts a wide side-board D isattached, the lower edge of which, d,is bent at right angles to the main body, thus forming a support toprevent the under ply of the lower apron from sagging. To this frontside -board are attached two roller-guides. The upper one, E,

long. vide the machines with different forms of-deserves as a supportfor the rollers c and e, while the lower one, F, serves as a support atthe front end for the rollers f and f.

The elevator shown in the drawings is of a type known as open at therear and is com mon in such constructions.

The framework for the upper apron is not as wide as that of the lower,while room is left for long grain to project to the rear. In order toaccomplish this, the rearroller-guide G for the upper apron is supportedby a long yoke H, that extends from the post 0 at the front of themachine rearwardly over the top of the framework for the upper elevatorand beyond the machine, finally curving and being attached to the sillof the machine beneath the framework of the lower elevator.

The roller-guide G serves to support the rear end of the rollers e ande. The rear end of the rollersff' are supported on a roller- I guide I,that is attached to the rear elevator side-board, which is supportedfrom the main frame of the machine in a manner similar to that of thefront side-board D. In the drawings a third roller J is shown that issupported bythe guides F and I. It is, however, not necessary to myinvention, but is shown merely because it is sometimes found in theelevators of harvesters as now built. The flat bar K is merely a stillextendingfrom the front of the elevator to the rear.

In practice it has been found that self-bind ing harvesters are shippedto all sections of the country where grain is grown and that they arefrequently stored in dampplaces or not stored at all, so that the apronsbecome damp and contract. This shortening of-the apron makes it verydifficult to make the ends come together. If made longer, the apron willwhen dry stretch so that it willbe too- It has been common for years toprogether while the apron is being put on, and

then the roller can be thrown backjnto its proper position. I accomplishthis result by placing one of the rollers for each apron in loo is tothrow up the rollers.

pivoted boxes which are extended from the ends of the roller-guides. Inthe drawings l. have shown the lower rollers of each of the aprons sopivoted, and in practice it has been found more convenient to pivotthese rollers rather than the upper ones. The lower roller ofthe upperapron is supported in boxes L, that are pivoted to the lower ends of theguides E and G. It is plain that when these pivoted boxes are turned upthe distance between the two rollers will be shortened, and that acontracted apron can in this way be buckled or fastened by any meansthat are provided, and that when so done the roller can be pressed backinto position. It has been found in practice that this can be doneeasily by hand without much exertion. WVhile the pivot of the boxes L isabove that of the center of the roller, so that the strain of the apronnaturally holds the roller in position, still the grain would were theboxes not held in place sometimes raise the roller and thus loosen theapron. A convenient form of a lock for holding these boxes in place isformed by the hooked rod M, which extends across the frame of the upperapron and enters the guide at front beneath an extension Zof the box Land at the rear is curved so as to form a conven ient handle for drawingthe rod, and the curved portion also making the lock underthe extensionZ of the box L in the rear. A spring M on the rod, which is held inplace by the washer m, tends to keep the rod in place and acting as alock. The lower roller of the lower apron is also mounted in pivotedboxes M which are pivoted in the roller-guides F and I. The pivot ofthese boxes to the guides is above the center of the roller when theroller is thrown into its lower position,and the grain being deliveredon top of the roller there is no tendency for the rollerto rise as themachine is operated, and it is therefore not necessary to provide a lockas in the case of the upper roller.

In the operation of self-binding harvesters in the field when it comesnight it is a common practice for the drivers to cover the aprons of themachine with bundles or with pieces of canvas to keep the dew from theaprons. lVhen the aprons become damp, they immediately shrink, thusplacing the fabric under great strain and in many in-' stances tearingthe buckles and other fastening devices. All that it is necessary to doto prevent this with my improved construction The aprons can in this waycontract, and when ready to start the machine in the morning, if theaprons have not already dried out, it will be very easy to loosen thebuckles or other fastenings of the apron, so that they will not benecessarily stretched, after which the rollers can be pushed down totheir working positions. Attention should be called to the fact thatwhen aprons are left upon the machine at night in bad weather theybecome so stretched that it is almost impossible to loosen them with theordinary means, and the machine is therefore started to work with theaprons under ahigh tension, which not only very materially increasesdraft, but as the aprons dry they remain stretched and soon they arespoiled. The aprons are one of the first parts of a selfbindingharvester to be worn out, and they are the most costly part of themachine to replace.

Having described my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patentis 1. In combination in an elevator for grainharvesters, two endlessaprons, one overlying the other mounted on rollers which are journaledin a framing on the machine, boxes pivoted to the framing in which oneof the rollers at the end of each apron is journaled and means forlocking the rollers in their working positions.

2. In a harvester-elevator in combination with a lower endless apron, anupper apron having one of its end rollers journaled in pivoted boxes,whereby the roller can be rocked on the pivots of the boxes and thedistance between the end rollers shortened, and a locking-rod whichextends from one of the pivoted boxes to the other with means forthrowing the rod into and out of engagement with the boxes.

3. In a harvester, the combination of an apron-carryin g frame, rollersat opposite ends of the frame, pivoted boxes in which one of saidrollers is journaled, and a releasable locking device for holding saidboxes in position to keep the apron taut.

4. In a harvester, the combination of an apron-carrying frame, rollersat opposite ends of the frame, pivoted boxes L in which the roller atone end of the frame is journaled, extensions Z projecting inwardly fromsaid boxes, and a rod M for locking the extensions in position to holdthe roller outwardly extended.

5. In a harvester, the combination of an apron-carryin g frame, rollersat opposite ends of the frame, pivoted boxes L in which one of therollers is journaled, extensions Z projecting inwardly from the boxes, ahooked rod M for releasably locking both the extensions in position tohold the rolleroutwardly extended, and a spring M to hold the rod inengagement with the extensions.

JOHN IV. PRIDMORE.

Vitnesses:

GEORGE C. BLACKMER, R-B. SWIFT.

ICC

